Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

I. v. 1. To write down hastily and briefly, to make a short note (of) (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Orig. Sc. but familiarised in Eng. in 19th c. by Scott and other Sc. writers. Gen. with down, but also with out.
Sc. 1735 RamsayPoems (1877) I. 259: What will they have to crack about, Or jot into their journal?Abd. 1746 Monymusk Papers (S.H.S.) 170: Keep a lead pencil & pocket book to jot down mem: of what is observed.Ayr. 1822 GaltProvost xxxv.: The domestic effects of many of the things which I have herein jotted down.Sc. 1827 ScottJournal (12 Feb.): I have jotted down his evidence elsewhere.Sc. 1835 T. T. StoddartSc. Angler 125: We deem it sufficient merely to jot out rapidly the principal points of attraction to the angler.Ags. 1857 “Inceptor”Tom of Wiseacre 14: You can jot it down if you please.Mry. 1883 F. SutherlandSunny Memories 59: But rhymin', uncle, 's simply rot, For ony calf can clink an' jot, Wi' half a lug.

Hence (1) jot-book, a rough note-book; (2) jotter, -ar, (a) one who takes rough notes (see 1827 quot. under (1)); (b) a note, memorandum, excerpt; (c) = (1), now esp. applied to a pupil's rough exercise book. Gen.Sc. Dim. jottery; (3) jotting, = (2) (b).
(1)Sc. 1796 Session Papers, Scott v. Stewart (12 May) 5: It was usual to put down a memorandum of them in two jot-books.Sc. 1827 Blackwood's Mag. XXII. 451: All the jottings that ever were jotted down on his jot-book, by the most inveterate jotter.(2) (b)Cai. 1773 Session Papers, State of Process, Sinclair v. Sinclair 21: He cannot be certain, as he has not the jotter of the sowing he made then of these lands, about him.Abd. 1882 W. ForsythWritings 19: The Major took a strong protest, An' o' the minute claim't a jottar.(c)Abd. 1854 Justiciary Reports (1855) 428: Not book-keeping, only a jotter, only a memorandum; every one keeps a jotter as he likes.Ags. 1870 A. PaulIncidents 116: She invariably carried a muff, and in that muff was what she called her jottery, which consisted of a roll or scroll of paper about two feet long, and which contained a note of every case she had to speak of.Sc. 1915 A. S. NeillDominie's Log xii.: Neatness of method and penmanship in copy-book and jotter.Clc. 1925 Dollar Mag. (March) 48: All books except exercise books and jotters are supplied by the school.Arg. 1952 N. MitchisonLobsters on the Agenda iii.: “Give me a jotter, will you?” He took one out of the [schoolroom] cupboard and handed it over.(3)Peb. 1733 C. B. GunnLinton Church (1912) 130: The jottings of his debursements ought to be sustained.Sc. 1796 Session Papers, Scott v. Stewart (13 Oct.) 9: Two books of jottings, which it was said contained a state of the money-transactions between the pursuer and Wood.Sc. 1814 ScottWaverley lxxi.: Tut, your honour! I'll mak a slight jotting the morn.Sc. 1830 A. HillPract. Ch. Scot. 37: The jottings, from which the minutes are made up.